Dog Soldiers sequel on the way ...

I was re-watching my DVD of the most excellent british horror movie 'Dog Soldiers' this evening, and thinking it was about time a sequel appeared on the horizon.

Did a quick search on the net, and turned up a few pages which suggest that a sequel, probably entitled 'Dog Soldiers 2 : Fresh Meat', is on the way. Kevin McKidd and Sean Pertwee are both unconfirmed but their names are mentioned in connection with the project. No other details as yet.

Without giving too much away, I'm probably not the only fan of the original movie eager to see what capacity Pertwee returns in ....

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'Dog Soldiers', along with the canadian 'Ginger Snaps' probably represent the best werewolf movies made in recent years (and in my opinion : ever). 'Ginger Snaps', of course, seems to have mostly been based on Suzi McKee Charnas' short story "Boobs".

I would tend to argue that while 'Ginger Snaps' is truly a movie devoted to themes of transformation and change (with lycanthropy equating to the stormy passage of the female lead characters through puberty), 'Dogs Soldiers' isn't at it's core a film where the werewolf takes centre stage. As the director says on the DVD commentary, its really a movie about soldiers that has werewolves in it, rather than a werewolf movie that has soldiers in it. Slight distinction, which doesn't take away from the fact that this is at it's core a horror movie for horror movie fans.

Breaking it down more analytically you could say that it moves from also soap-opera beginnings (bit like 'Soldier, Soldier') into becoming a chase movie and then into, finally, a siege movie.

The camradery and esprit de corps of the squaddies on-screen is the main focus and drive as events unfold, and it's this bedrock that makes the viewer actually care for the characters and fear the werewolf threat ... as opposed to most horror movies, where the protagonists drift around only serving as eye candy and cannon fodder.

Ominously, however, Fango has reported that this time around efforts have been made to work more americans into the script, taking into account US viewer feedback. AAarrgh...

This isn't thrilling news. Part of the strength of the original movie is that it is so free of Hollywood's influence. It was as english as bangers and mash with all its northern slang and football references. If there's a token american hero in the sequel I'm going to run around naked killing people at the next full moon.

I loved the first one. As the movie progressed, it just got better and better. I love scenes with gore, and this one did not disappoint. But, it's not just a gore movie. Not at all. Really a great movie all around, with humor, action, and REAL scares. Not too many horror movies make me jump any more.

The good news is that a 'Dog Soldiers' sequel is due to shoot in April, with a budget of $5.5 million, in either Luxembourg or Canada.

The bad news is that it looks like our worst fears of americanisation are due to be realised . http://www.horrorexpress.com/news.php?newsid=134 reports that Neil Marshall had to sell his rights to the US in order to get the first film made, and effectively been shut out.

The new movie is going on under the direction of Andy Armstrong from an Eric Miller script. The writers are David E. Allen and Brian Patrick O’Toole.

The gist of the plot is Cooper being picked up by an elite american army unit right after the end of the first film. Supposedly they were the real opponents in the 'wargames exercise'. Naturally there are more werewolves coming out of the woodwork, and writer Allen promises more blood and guts and so on.

Allen has said “We’re definitely thinking in terms of a franchise ... We have a third story sitting in the background, and we also have an idea for a prequel that would tell the story of the werewolf family.”

Provisional guess: we can expect a shoddy re-make of the first movie with bland american actors, and without the witty banter, british humour or underlying soldiering theme. They'll probably even CGI in the bad guys instead of using puppetry.

Never mind the werewolves, the american producers are the real monsters.

Originally posted by Ouroboros Provisional guess: we can expect a shoddy re-make of the first movie with bland american actors, and without the witty banter, british humour or underlying soldiering theme. They'll probably even CGI in the bad guys instead of using puppetry.

Never mind the werewolves, the american producers are the real monsters.

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Christ, I am only surprised that they don't have Paul Anderson directing it and Freddie Prinze Jnr and Matthew Lillard starring.

This will undoubtably be crap. I agree that the "Britishishness" made the first film what it was and that removing this element can only be to the films detriment.

Time for an update on this, boys and girls. I haven't logged in for ages, but the latest information on the new Dog Soldiers plot goes something like this:-

The lone survivor of the last movie is picked up by aforementioned tedious elite american special forces unit, and quizzed about what the hell is going on. They also capture a badly wounded survivor of the original english spec-ops unit destroyed by the werewolves (Sean Pertwee's men, who we never actually saw). This survivor claims that his old unit are now turning into werewolves. Americans don't believe yadda yadda werewolves attack yadda yadday americans believe yadda yadda.

There's not really a hope in hell this will even approach the understated class of the original movie, but what the hell, I'll still go and see it.

I loved dog soldiers... but then the americans come in. Must they destroy everything that is good in this world? What's next? A war against rainbows? Or am I just over-reacting... yeah that's probably it.

(Gregorius slips himself some prozac.)

Nah, I'll prolly go see it anyway, if only to throw daggers at the theatre screen any time and american shows up. GRRRRR!!!!

Time for an update on this, boys and girls. I haven't logged in for ages, but the latest information on the new Dog Soldiers plot goes something like this:-

The lone survivor of the last movie is picked up by aforementioned tedious elite american special forces unit, and quizzed about what the hell is going on. They also capture a badly wounded survivor of the original english spec-ops unit destroyed by the werewolves (Sean Pertwee's men, who we never actually saw). This survivor claims that his old unit are now turning into werewolves. Americans don't believe yadda yadda werewolves attack yadda yadday americans believe yadda yadda.

There's not really a hope in hell this will even approach the understated class of the original movie, but what the hell, I'll still go and see it.

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Part of the joy of the first film was the decidedly british sense of humour. That will be washed away in a tide of American gung ho militerism I imagine. Like Eurytus, I am fully expecting Freddy Prinze junior or some such actor in the lead role, pumping lead into anything that moves. Shame.

Easy guys, there are plenty of Americans who frequent this board... Not everything Hollywood touches turns to cack... Look on the bright side, if they rip-off the story line, all but one of the actors will get torn to shreds!!!

Easy guys, there are plenty of Americans who frequent this board... Not everything Hollywood touches turns to cack... Look on the bright side, if they rip-off the story line, all but one of the actors will get torn to shreds!!!

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Sorry Juzzza, I though I was just bemoaning the fact that Hollywood can get it wrong when it appropriates ideas from elsewhere, and I am not a fan of empires. I do however like Hollywood blockbusters when it sticks to what it knows.
Hollywood being a separate entity to the American peoples

I can see how this thread might read a bit ambiguously, so just to clarify : The US turns out some great horror movies, so it's not that I think it impossible that a great sequel can be produced. ...But unfortunately all the pointers seem to suggest the production is angling towards becoming one of those dreaded straight-to-video sequels like Starship Troopers 2.

Part of the joy of the first film was the decidedly british sense of humour. That will be washed away in a tide of American gung ho militerism I imagine.

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I think the original Dog Soldiers was all about soldiering, and the relationship between the squaddies. So the gung-ho element was already integral (here I'm thinking of when Spoon turns round to the other guys as they are barricading up the house and says something to the effect of "This is ace ... just like Rourke's drift". The guys behind it described it as a 'film about soldiers that has werewolves in it', rather than a 'film about werewolves that has soldiers in it'.

I agree about the understated humour part, however. It's not that our american friends can't do dry wit (The Simpsons, anyone?) ... its just that bit rarer...

If there's a token american hero in the sequel I'm going to run around naked killing people at the next full moon.

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Um...on the one hand that would be quite funny. On the other hand, it wouldn't.

I do wonder if we are being pessimistic though. One would hope that the original makers of the film would hold onto an element of independence and mix it with a bit of what makes Hollywood good. You never know!

And I take your point Juzzza. Not sure how I missed the post that was immediately above mine either.